Get all caught up with the latest trends and news that show that trade unions are actors of development in their own right.
The period September – mid-November 2025, has been very productive for the ITUC’s Trade Union Development Cooperation Network (TUDCN). After resuming activities in September, following the High-Level Political Forum 2025, the network has continued to engage across global policy spaces to ensure that workers’ perspectives remain at the centre of sustainable development debates.
1. Advocacy at the UN General Assembly
The TUDCN participated in the United Nations 80th General Assembly, with a delegation led by ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle. Our discussions with the President of ECOSOC and Nepal’s Ambassador to the UN, Lok Bahadur Thapa, focused on strengthening the role of trade unions in UN processes. We also presented concrete proposals on advancing women’s labour rights during an exchange with UN Women Deputy Executive Director Sarah Hendriks.
2. Major wins at the World Summit for Social Development
During the first week of November, the network took part in the 2nd World Summit for Social Development in Doha. The secretariat secured numerous opportunities for our delegation to present workers’ priorities directly to governments and international institutions. This work included two ITUC-led side-events entitled “Decent Work for Social Justice: Partnering for Gender Equality and non-Discrimination in the World of Work”, and “Impact of Labour Migration on Social Development: Challenges and Good Practices” (organised together with Spain and the ILO).
These sustained efforts translated into a significant outcome: the Doha Political Declaration stands as a decisive win for workers. It reaffirms key trade union priorities such as fundamental principles and rights at work, social dialogue, living wages, universal social protection, care workers’ rights, equal pay and eradication of gender-based violence in the world of work. In addition, the declaration integrates decent work principles throughout its commitments, including for youth, migrant and platform workers.
Engagement with the European Union
The network held its EU and Global Network Meeting to set out our demands for the EU Multiannual Financial Framework. The meeting was also the occasion to present our latest study, “The Global Gateway’s contribution to decent work”. Furthermore, we participated in the Global Gateway Forum to discuss the future of this initiative’s investments in partner countries.
National breakthroughs
Across the world, trade unions continue to push for meaningful change:
- Bangladesh – trade unions celebrated a landmark achievement as the country became the first in South Asia to ratify ILO Conventions 155, 187 and 190.
- India – INTUC organised actions under the Timefor8 campaign, calling for stronger rights for gig workers and agricultural workers.
- Somalia – FESTU participated in the Social and Private Sector Partners Consultation on the future UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2026–2030.
- South Korea – Trade unions secured major reforms to the Trade Union and Labour Relations Adjustment Act – an important step forward in the fight against precarious work.
- Spain – USO marked World Day for Decent Work by underlining the link between Goal 8 and a sustainable future for all.
We’ll continue working to put workers at the centre of global development—stay tuned for our next update.
